Let's say that's true; how do you think to have all those new deals in place on the first of January 2021? Do you still believe anyone would seriously negotiate with you until they know for sure that you are not in some sort of customs arrangement with the EU in the end?

Greece shows us that there is a kind of politician worse than the ones that break their election promises; the ones that keep their election promises.

Bojo held yet another speech today. He managed to wrap up some offensive (& unfunny) jokes in a whole lot of nothing. Every time I see him I wonder what Brits have done wrong to get burdened with him in the government.

Greece shows us that there is a kind of politician worse than the ones that break their election promises; the ones that keep their election promises.

The report author, FTI’s John Maloney, rightly ponders why the collective views of individual businesses are seemingly so at odds with the public interventions made by their representative bodies on their behalf.

Because the FTI's investigation is not credible. There isn't just a discrepancy between the views of the representative bodies and the people who responded to this survey but also between these respondents and respondents to extensive and thorough surveys conducted by those same representative groups. This is like a Fox news poll showing Trump to be the most popular president ever. The most charitable interpretation is that businesses expect a soft Brexit with continued FoM and continued supremacy of EU courts on trade- and rights-related matters.

“Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries, but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity.”
— Bill Gates

‘The results hint at a misreading of the political reality. Certainty remains in short supply, with little prospect of companies getting comfort on the future trade agreement any time soon. The British Government has clearly stated that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, and the EU has clearly stated it will not let the UK cherry pick a trade deal. There will be some winners and some losers, assuming we even come to a deal. This could hit some sectors quite hard.’

European businesses still believe the UK may end up with a “soft Brexit” with little change to existing arrangements, even as UK ministers remain divided over how closely Britain should align itself with EU rules.

A survey of more than 2,500 senior executives in the UK, France, Germany and Spain found that a majority of companies believe that Britain’s future relationship with the EU will maintain principles such as the free movement of people and oversight by the European Court of Justice.

Of those questioned, 58 per cent also believe that the City of London will keep its prized “passporting” rights, which enable banks to offer financial services across the EU, after Brexit, despite this having been ruled out by Brussels, according to FTI consulting, the group that conducted the survey.

[...]

FTI said the findings “hint at a misreading of the political reality”.

“Certainty remains in short supply” in the Brexit negotiations, “with little prospect of companies getting comfort on the future trade agreement any time soon”, said Hans Hack, a member of FTI’s Brexit task force.

[...]

Mrs May said this month that Britain was “categorically” leaving the EU’s customs union, something that Brussels has warned will inevitably complicate cross-border trade.

[...]

The executives surveyed by FTI warned that businesses will soon have to make “irreversible” changes to their operations to prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU. Of companies surveyed, 53 per cent said they would make these changes by next month, and almost three-quarters will have done so by June.

UK businesses emerged as being the most concerned about the potential impact of Brexit, with 74 per cent expressing concerns, compared with an average of 61 per cent for German, French and Spanish companies.

Unsurprisingly, a survey of business leaders in several large European countries finds that not everyone is concerned about the UK leaving the EU. We had no idea other countries would be so optimistic about gaining an advantage over the UK.

“Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries, but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity.”
— Bill Gates

Meanwhile in today's most shocking news ever, it appears that the leader of the nation that has the biggest trade surplus with the UK actually does want a bespoke trade deal with what will be the EU's number one goods export market.

Meanwhile in today's most shocking news ever, it appears that the leader of the nation that has the biggest trade surplus with the UK actually does want a bespoke trade deal with what will be the EU's number one goods export market.

I don't speak German. But according to Google Translate that you've quoted is: I am curious how the UK presents the partnership. And of course we also have interests. "She wanted to have a close partnership. However, it is also clear that there will be a difference to the EU membership of the UK. Necessary is a "fair balance"

Maybe its lost in translation but I don't see hurt there. I don't see anything objectionable there.

Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer

Being upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

The message is in the part where she says there will be a difference. That's another way of saying; no cherry picking. Which again means reduced access compared to the present situation. How far reduced is to be decided; and given that every trade deal with two parties is unique, it doesn't hurt to say that if it means you can negotiate with the UK rather than have the crazies take over in Whitehall.

Greece shows us that there is a kind of politician worse than the ones that break their election promises; the ones that keep their election promises.

If "difference" means "reduced and more costly access" for goods and services, then, yes, that implies hurt. You'll note that the business leaders in the survey you referred to earlier believe in a post-Brexit scenario that isn't what was voted for.

“Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries, but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity.”
— Bill Gates

I don't speak German. But according to Google Translate that you've quoted is: I am curious how the UK presents the partnership. And of course we also have interests. "She wanted to have a close partnership. However, it is also clear that there will be a difference to the EU membership of the UK. Necessary is a "fair balance"

Maybe its lost in translation but I don't see hurt there. I don't see anything objectionable there.

It's actually a rather damning statement of your policies up-to-date. The first sentence is translated as: "I'm curious what the UK thinks the partnership should look like."

Which actually means: "Godfuckingdamnit, will you morons finally make up your mind and tell us something realistic!"

I mean, it's pretty telling that after a fucking year we still don't know what it is exactly what you want. You know which are the red lines. Up till now you still don't seem to understand that those actually exist.

When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

The implication of Merkel's heavily publicized remarks is that she believes the UK does not know what it wants, but the EU may offer something between the Norway and Canada models as a best case scenario. Ie. worse than full membership, worse than Norway, better than Canada. Based on what we currently know, "better than Canada" isn't likely to imply a substantial deal on services, eg. financial services, unless major concessions are made by the UK.

“Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries, but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity.”
— Bill Gates

"I see the European Union FTA [free trade agreement] as certainly commencing formal negotiations well and truly prior to anything that might happen with the UK"

"Yes there will be an official working group, to look at scoping some of these [UK-Aussie trade] things, but to parallel that scoping exercise with the much more formal scoping exercise that the EU and Australia have undertaken I think would be a mistake"

"The economic reality is that even our closest trading partners will prioritise talks with the EU, the biggest market in the world, over the UK. Pulling out of Europe’s single market would mean years of damaging uncertainty, job losses and investment. How do you tell businesses to wait years to know what the rules of trade will be?"

Europe without us is not the biggest market in the world by a long shot. It's America that is and China will overtake Europe for second before long (it's already ahead by PPP but will be ahead nominally in the next couple of years). Neither of those two larger markets being one Europe has been able to make a deal with.

It's also a bit weird that you're quoting a minister's comments years ago when Australia's Foreign Minister today has made remarks that seem far more relevant.

“I believe that, post Brexit, there will be enormous opportunities to engage more closely in trade and investment,” she said.

“When the circumstances are right, when the timing is right, Australia would be keen to pursue a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. High quality, comprehensive, gold standard.”

Europe without us is not the biggest market in the world by a long shot. It's America that is and China will overtake Europe for second before long (it's already ahead by PPP but will be ahead nominally in the next couple of years). Neither of those two larger markets being one Europe has been able to make a deal with.

It's also a bit weird that you're quoting a minister's comments years ago when Australia's Foreign Minister today has made remarks that seem far more relevant.

“I believe that, post Brexit, there will be enormous opportunities to engage more closely in trade and investment,” she said.

“When the circumstances are right, when the timing is right, Australia would be keen to pursue a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. High quality, comprehensive, gold standard.”

I wonder why you'd choose the negative two years old remarks and not the positive remarks made today?

Whoops, I misread the date. I need to stop trying to do this whilst at work. Could have sworn I read Feb 2018

Still the message is the same, really. When the timing is right i.e. they have a trade deal with the EU in place, they will talk to us. Slightly alarming, I'd say, if all other countries who are currently in talks with the EU take that approach.